Page 14 - Lawn & Landscape Guide AL

Aerate: If you did not aerate your lawn in April, May is another month it can be done. Aerating relieves compaction in the soil and also allows air, water, and nutrients to get beneath the soils surface to allow your roots grow and expand. Roots MUST have oxygen to grow. Aerating allows for a thicker, healthier stand of turf grass.
Fertilizer: Apply 1⁄4 lb of nitrogen per 1000 sqft with micronutrients to keep your lawn green and healthy. *No nitrogen should be applied if your lawn is suffering from tuf diseases.
Post-emergent: Apply spot application of a selective herbicide for weeds that are actively growing in the lawn.
Fire Ants: Fire ant stings are very painful and are no joke! They thrive in warmer temperatures and but they are active 12 months a year. Fire ants search for areas of direct sunlight so your lawn is a perfect fit. Their mounds can develop very quickly especially after rainfall. Broadcasting baits are most effective.
Turf Insect Alert: Insects are still thriving. Be on the look-out for mole crickets, chinch bugs, grub worms, etc. *A good way to check for turf pests is to take a 4 square foot area, framed up with 2x4’s. Put 5-6 table spoons of dish washing liquid to 2 gallons of water in a bucket and mix up. Pour over the 4 sqft area and wait a few minutes. If turf pests are present they should come to the surface and be able to be seen. Apply insecticide as needed.
Turf Disease Alert: Turf disease are still active and identification is key. Brown Patch, Leaf Spot, and Take All Patch are among the most common in the month of May. Brown patch generally has an area of turf yellowing/browning and that area continues to spread. Centipede Brown Patch-look for brown to reddish colored areas. St. Augustine Brown Patch-Brownish patch and often a yellow halo around the